Eli's Hospice Insider
High-Profile Novus Case Sees More Guilty Pleas From DON, Marketers
Nursing head admitted to falsifying documentation, among other misdeeds. Nine defendants are on track for a trial next year in the notorious Novus Health case, following three more guilty pleas. Director of Nursing Patricia Armstrong, marketing director Slade Brown, and co-founder and VP of marketing Samuel Anderson are the fifth, sixth, and seventh defendants to plead guilty in the case against Novus, in which the feds allege Novus CEO Bradley Harris directed hospice nurses to speed up the death of elderly patients by administering certain drugs. Armstrong entered her plea Nov. 2, and Brown and Anderson entered theirs Nov. 27, reports the Dallas Morning News. Among other misdeeds, Armstrong admits to falsifying documentation, recruiting ineligible patients for bonuses, and being aware of patients’ overmedication, the newspaper says. Armstrong is cooperating in the investigation. Anderson and others recruited doctors to refer patients in exchange for sham medical director payments, and paid certified nursing assistants to work at assisted living facilities in exchange for referrals, according to court documents. He is expected to testify in future trials, the News says. The other 9 defendants in the case will face trial next year, unless more guilty pleas come in.
Eli's Hospice Insider
- Payment:
Hospices Lead The Pack In Claims Payment Errors
But Medicare’s improper pay rate for hospices has fallen significantly. Hospices looking for relief from [...] - Reimbursement:
Get Clues For Review Target Areas From State Error Rates
Highest-ranking states may surprise you. Medicare’s payment error rate for hospices and home health agencies [...] - Compliance:
OIG Takes Another Run At Hospice Program Integrity Recommendations
Watchdog agency reiterates advice to toughen surveys, implement alternative sanctions, and much more. It was [...] - Fraud & Abuse:
OIG Adds Wide-Ranging Hospice Topic To Work Plan
Don’t be surprised if OIG investigation leads to tougher surveys. With Medicare hospice payments continuing [...] - Emergency Preparedness:
Medicare Considers Lightening Your Emergency Preparedness Load
Recent months’ string of natural disasters emphasize why EP changes matter. Hospices used to seeing [...] - Quality:
New Hospice Compare Composite Measure Now Live
Plus: Take a look at your preview report before it’s too late. Hospices’ scores for [...] - Industry Note:
High-Profile Novus Case Sees More Guilty Pleas From DON, Marketers
Nursing head admitted to falsifying documentation, among other misdeeds. Nine defendants are on track for [...] - Industry Note:
Although HIS Has Stayed The Same, Your Should Check Out Updated Guidance
Access new guidance on completing Hospice Item Set questions accurately in the updated HIS Manual. [...] - Industry Note:
New Claims Rejections, Returns May Be Errors — But Don't Jump To Conclusions
Beware a new payment glitch hitting hospice claims. “Hospice claims are incorrectly rejecting with reason [...] - Industry Note:
Regional Chain Makes 2 Buys
Bristol Hospice, a portfolio company of Webster Capital, has bought the Colorado operations of Salt [...] - Industry Note:
Medicare Issues Statistical Sampling Marching Orders To Contractors
In hopes of increasing consistency across contractors, Medicare recently sent new statistical sampling instructions. “To [...] - Reader Question:
Here's How To Give CMS Your Ideas On Reducing Burden
Do you wish you were seeing more benefit from Medicare’s Patients Over Paperwork initiative to [...]
